Colorado Democrats to push in-state tuition for undocumented college students

Plan for latest ASSET bill to be unveiled Tuesday

Democrats in the state Legislature plan to introduce a bill this session that would extend in-state tuition rates to undocumented college students who attended high school in Colorado for at least three years.

Similar versions of the legislation were brought forward in past years in an attempt to create a third tier of tuition for immigrants that is more expensive than in-state tuition, but less than out-of-state rates. Republicans voted down those measures on a half-dozen occasions.

Now, with Democrats controlling both legislative chambers, proponents -- in a plan to be unveiled Tuesday at the Capitol -- are going a step further and will seek to allow undocumented students to pay in-state tuition if they attended a Colorado high school for at least three years, graduated from high school or obtained a GED, and are admitted to a Colorado college or university.

Furthermore, according to a summary of the legislation posted online, qualifying students who are not already working their way through the immigration system "will be required to seek lawful presence as soon as possible."

At CU this year, in-state tuition rates for students in the College of Arts and Sciences are $8,056. The out-of-state rate is $29,946.

In June, Metropolitan State University of Denver adopted a new rate for undocumented students -- becoming the first college in Colorado to do so. Metro's new plan sets tuition for undocumented students at $6,716 annually. In-state students at Metro pay $4,304 per year.

The bill is scheduled to be filed Tuesday morning and, shortly thereafter, supporters will hold a noon rally and press conference on the west steps of the Capitol. Among the sponsors are Sen. Mike Johnston, D-Denver, and Rep. Crisanta Duran, D-Denver, both of whom are scheduled to appear at the event.

"What we're looking at is a simpler, more equitable approach to tuition," Johnston said.

Lynea Hansen, spokeswoman for Colorado ASSET, which stands for Advancing Students for a Stronger Economy Tomorrow, said the goal of is for all qualified high school graduates to be able to afford college.

"We are continuing to look for bipartisan support of the bill," she said.

'Kids who we want in this country'

CU's student government leaders have vowed to lobby for legislation that would bring tuition for Colorado's undocumented students closer in line with in-state rates.

Last year, CU's Board of Regents -- in a resolution sponsored by Regent Joe Neguse, D-Boulder -- narrowly signaled support for the previous version of the ASSET legislation, which would have created a third tier of tuition for undocumented students.

At the time, Regent Tillie Bishop, R-Grand Junction, gave the Democrats on the Board of Regents the swing vote they needed to pass the measure. Bishop has since been replaced by Regent Glen Gallegos, also a Grand Junction Republican.

Gallegos in an interview Monday said he's interested in seeing the language of the bill because he wants to make sure those students would be able to get jobs upon graduation.

"If it were worded to where it requires there to be a step toward legalized citizenship, I wouldn't have any trouble supporting it," he said.

Gallegos is a former school teacher, principal and administrator and said that the students who would qualify for in-state tuition are deserving.

"Those are great kids and they've proven themselves," he said. "Those are kids who we want in this country."

'False hope'

CU system spokesman Ken McConnellogue said it's likely legislators will ask CU what its stance is on the proposed measure.

"I think when you have legislation that affects colleges, we get asked our opinion," McConnellogue said. "We haven't seen the bill yet. Before we decide if it's something we want to weigh in on, we'd have to have a conversation with the Board of Regents."

Marco Arredondo, legislative affairs director for the CU student government, said student leaders will lobby for the bill and possibly testify at hearings in favor of the legislation.

He said the proposed measure fits into the student leaders' aim of "making education affordable and accessible to everyone."

"There are students we went to high school with and our friends who would benefit from this legislation," Arredondo said.

Sen. Johnston said he expected even more bipartisan support from Republicans this year.

But that wasn't the sentiment from House Minority Leader Mark Waller, R-Colorado Springs, who said Republicans favored "comprehensive immigration reform" over legislation like this.

"They (illegal immigrants) can't get a job," Waller said. "I think it gives false hope. It's just another attempt for Democrats to make government all things for all people."

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